Little Things Favors

February 27, 2024 By Leave a Comment

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I wish I would have thought more to order my wedding favors and decorations online when I got married in 2009. At the time, I had this weird fear of ordering things online. There are some absolutely wonderful Christian favors you can order from Little Things Favors, though, a store I recently had the pleasure of being introduced to.

I have the Pewter Cross Statue with inlay seen pictured below and it is more beautiful in person than on the website. I have always been a fan of simple designs that are elegant and timeless. This favor not only features that, but is also adorned with small shiny rhinestones. The cross also features cutouts, which I love.

Christian Favor

I think this is more than just a table decoration. It has a great color scheme that would fit many different wedding and Christening celebrations. I think not only will your guests find it charming and sophisticated, but they will be happy to take one home as a favor. Mine sits on my desk and fits perfectly to remind me as I write my blog and do my daily work that God is there.

The price of the cross is amazing. If you order 11 or more, you can get them for less than $3.50 each, Think of how great these would be to give to your wedding party or grandparents and God Parents at a Christening to remember that special day.

It really is the “Little Things” that matter when it comes to table design and party setup and decor. I am proud to display the pewter Inlay Cross on my desk as I think it looks classy and beautiful. There are so many party favors on the site that double as gifts!

If you have a wedding or another special event on it’s way, make sure you check out Little Things Favors on Facebook, Twitter and For more decorative ideas, check them out on Pinterest. You won’t be disappointed. I wish I would have had the opportunity to add the special touches from them to my wedding day decor. I do have a 5 year anniversary coming up…hmmm.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Filed Under: Frugal Living

What is Blogging About?

February 26, 2024 By 3 Comments

what is blogging about

I would be much richer than I am now (not that I am close to being rich in funds lol) if I had a nickle for every funny look I get when I tell people what I do for my profession. It is as if people do not see blogging as a “real” job or, as I suspect, they are confused what it actually entails and are afraid to ask.

I just wanted to clear up some things about what I do, so you can gain a better understanding and take the mystery out.

 

What is Blogging About?

 

Here are some common thoughts and misconceptions:

“What exactly DO you Do”?

This is a short question requiring a long answer, but here goes; I write on an online publication. I help promote companies I believe in. I contribute to numerous other blogs and online publications such Premeditated Leftovers, A Mitten Full Of Savings, Moms Confession and Canadian Free Stuff. I spend my day on Facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram. I make recipes, crafts and DIY projects and share them with the world. In short, I am a freelance writer/social media manager/online publisher/social media advertiser.

“Your job sounds really easy.”

Easy is not a word I would choose to describe my job. Is it brain surgery or rocket science? Certainly not, but it has it’s frustrations. For one, computers are my friend and foe. One outage on the internet or a computer crash and my job is poof for as long as it takes to fix the issue. I am constantly blogging, writing, promoting and dreaming about blogging. This means I spend over 10 hours a day on the computer. Just because I am in my pj’s most of the time doesn’t mean it is not mentally taxing or something everyone can do. It is often stressful and aggravating.

“Do you actually make REAL money?”

Yes, I do. I make enough to pay for my internet service, car insurance, groceries, gas in my car, trips to the thrift store and other incidentals throughout the month such as my Sunday “dates” with my 11 year old. If that isn’t real, I don’t know what is.

“How do you make money?”

This is a long answer too, and one that varies depending on who you talk to (other bloggers that is). I personally make my money doing sidebar ads, sponsored posts, and product reviews on occasion. However, my personal blog is not my biggest money maker. I make the most from contributing to other blogs and random VA (Virtual Assistant) jobs as well as writing content for various blogs as a Ghost Writer (I don’t get recognition as the author, I just write it) and Copy Writer.

“How Can I get into this?!”

The same way I did. Just start a blog, join some groups on Facebook and be willing to LEARN. An open mind is the best tool you can have when it comes to blogging. However, be prepared to not earn ANYTHING for a few months at the very least. It’s long hours for little pay in many cases, even when you get established, but I have to say, I love every minute of it! (OK, I take that back. I don’t love all of it, but the good FAR outweighs any bad that comes my way!) Just don’t join blogging to get “free stuff”. It is never free, trust me.

 

Blogging really is the best JOB I have ever had! It allows me to make my own hours, keep my anxiety in check, give me a sense of success and accomplishment as well as feel like I have finally found my place. I struggled deeply with finding my place in the work world. I can’t tell you how many jobs I have quit, some quit embarrassingly. It saved me. Really. I know that seems simple and maybe a bit silly, but I thought I would never amount to anything. I felt like a constant failure. My depression and anxiety was constantly winning. Blogging let me see that is simply not true and I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given with it!

Filed Under: My Blog Tagged With: , , , ,

How To Afford Luxuries You Never Thought You Could Afford

February 26, 2024 By Leave a Comment

How To Get Luxuries You Never Thought You Could Afford

You may not think you can afford high end clothing, weekend get-aways and maid services. Really, you might be able to with a little creativity, especially if these things are not something you want or need all the time.

Here are some tips for getting some luxuries that you think you cannot afford.

How to afford luxeries you never thought you could

High end clothing and designer accessories: This may surprise you, but you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for designer duds. There are multiple ways you can afford them and while some of it is luck, a lot of it is just knowing where to look. For instance, you can get many designer items from thrift store for 10% of the price they cost brand new. You can also look at clothing outlets for great steals on these luxury clothing items.

Maid services- This is something you can probably afford if you only need it once in a while and by looking at some less advertised options, you may be able to find someone who is willing to negotiate their price. Look online on places like Craigslist for private contractors. They are often bonded and insured just like the larger companies and their price is usually lower. In addition to this, many will give your free consultations and free cleaning time if you pay for a certain amount of hours in advance. You could cut the time they maid needs to spend in your home by doing half the work as well and just having them do some deep cleaning.

Solon Services- Look for coupons and specials at certain times of the year such as prom and wedding season. You can also go to cosmetology schools and get these services performed under the watch of instructors by students. These services are often half or more off.

Weekend get-aways- Look for specials around the end of the tourist season for these get-aways while resorts try to book their last weeks for the year. You can also look into time shares. If you are really stuck for money, you may be able to split the cost with a friend or another couple.

Fancy Meals- This one can get tricky, but if you time it right, you may be able to afford a 2 for 1 meal on special holidays like Valentine’s day or Mother’s day. You can also eat at home and go out for dessert and coffee or drinks at a fine dining establishment. Another way to enjoy high end eats? Get lunch rather than dinner as the price is usually cheaper.

Home delivery of Groceries- This may not be available in all areas, but getting groceries delivered is not as expensive as you think it may be. And, many retailers take coupons even for home delivery, so the service could practically pay for itself if you know how to coupon right.

Tax preparation services- Did you know that if you make under $50,000 a year and have a simple return the IRS will have a representative sit down with you and prepare your taxes for you? It’s true! And, yes, they will find you deductions you qualify for, even. The best part? It’s free! If you desire to have this done, make sure you make an appointment well in advance. Give yourself at least a month.

Filed Under: Beauty, Frugal Living Tagged With: , , ,

Ranch Pretzels

February 24, 2024 By 3 Comments

Ranch Pretzels

Where I am from in Montana, ranch dressing rules. People put it on everything, but french fries is #1. When I moved to Washington, people looked at me sideways if I asked for ranch for my fries. I guess some people like it here, but for the most part, people put tartar sauce on their fries. I thought it was strange, until I tried it and it actually tastes pretty good.

While these are not a french fry recipe, this is a great recipe to make pretzels taste amazing! Although this is not really a diabetic-friendly recipe, keep in mind that each pretzel in this recipe is 1-2 carbs (depending on the brand of pretzel you use).

You can make this for game days, birthday parties and anywhere in between. They take just minutes and taste wonderful. No dip needed at all! What is also great about this recipe is, it’s super low cost to make.

Ranch Pretzels

Ranch Pretzels
 
Print
Author:
Recipe type: Appetiser
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
  • 1 regular size bag of pretzels
  • 1 packet of Ranch dressing mix (the dry kind in the pouch)
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
  1. Pour your pretzels into a large ziplock bag. You may need to split the recipe in order to do this as there needs to be room in the bag to shake.
  2. Pour the ranch dressing dip and garlic powder in the bag. Add the Olive oil and shake.
  3. You can serve right away, or if you prefer, wait overnight by leaving the mixture in the bags and giving a shake a couple times over the course of the day. This will allow the flavors and oil to penetrate more and leave it with a more intense flavor.
Notes
If you like your snacks a little spicy, try adding a little bit of cayenne pepper and chilli powder to the mix as well. Adjust for taste. Enjoy!
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If you like your snacks a little spicy, try adding a little bit of cayenne pepper and chilli powder to the mix as well. Adjust for taste. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Frugal Living, Snacks Tagged With: , , , ,

An Endearing Announcement From Minted.com

February 21, 2024 By 1 Comment
The following is a sponsored post. Although it is sponsored by minted.com, all words, opinions and stories are 100% my own. I was not told what to write by minted.com. I chose to do this sponsored post because I feel it resonates with my readers. This notice is in accordance to the FTC standards regarding advertizements in online publishing.

 

Spring is coming soon. I actually am so excited for it, I kind of watch the weather like a hawk. Living in the Pacific Northwest, by this time of year, you are itching for some blue skies. One of the things I love about Springtime the most is the renewal of life and that means babies. Of course, not all babies are born this time of year, but it sure seems like it lately with a couple of my friends just having theirs.

One thing an excited parent is looking for after the crib, baby gear and diapers, of course, is that perfect announcement so they can show off their little bean to the world. Minted.com has some amazing birth announcements.

minted.com birth announcement

My Favorite by far is this one. If I were to have another baby, I would definitely do this one. I have never seen anything like it!

Who doesn’t just delight in getting those first pictures taken and seeing their baby as a “star” in an announcement to the world?

If you are not quite to the point of announcing your little bundle’s arrival yet, but you are having a shower soon, you are going to absolutely love the baby shower invitations! They are whimsical, fun and absolutely unique. Your guests will be so delighted with them, they may even be tempted to keep the party invitation!

minted.com baby shower invitation

One of my personal favs. Just Sayin’.

What is most unique about minted.com is their party invitations (not just baby shower, but wedding, birthday and every invite in between) have matching decor available so its a one stop shop. No running around everywhere to get matching party supplies. The prices really are pretty amazing as well. The cups, plates and even straws are very nice and classic looking.

robin's egg striped straws

I have to say, I am in love with everything Minted has to offer. If you are not planning a party, but are a blogger like myself, you should seriously consider getting some of the other items for food props such as the apothecary jars, fun paper straws and cake stands. They are absolutely picture perfect!

Psst.. Make sure to keep up with Minted on Pinterest (for amazing products in your Pin stream), Facebook and twitter (for new product announcements as well as tips and special offers!)!

 

 

Filed Under: Crafts & DIY, Family, Food, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

How To Score Freebies

February 19, 2024 By 2 Comments

How to score freebies

I have been asked by several readers who read my frugal living tips on how to get free stuff from companies. I am not a total expert on the subject as I mostly get my free stuff using coupons and the occasional free sample by mail, but here are some tips if you are a freebie hunter:

How to Score Freebies

Join “try and rate” sites like Crowdtap, Bzz Agent, PinchMe! Smiley360 and Influenster. These sites send out “campaigns” that require various social media tasks be completed to share your experience with others. I belong to all four and in the past have gotten full sized beauty products, food, media and even clothing and shopping “sprees”. They are all free to join, although you won’t always get picked for every campaign and you must complete the activities for each campaign to be included in future ones.

Keep your eyes open for free samples on social media. Simply typing in “#freebie” on twitter or Facebook might yield some results.

Ask companies to send stuff to you. You might get lucky if you compliment a company that you already love. They could send branded novelties or even coupons for free products.

Enter blog giveaways. I periodically have them on my blog, so make sure you enter to win as the odds are pretty good for most people. You could also join sites like Contest Chest that send you a newsletter that lists new giveaways that are added to their database every day.

One way to get free things both online and off is to take surveys. These can be found on websites or on receipts after you make a purchase. I often get free food or a discount the next time I shop by taking 5 minutes of my time to take a survey.

Sign up for birthday clubs. Many restaurants and stores offer free stuff when your birthday comes. Make sure to sign up for as many sites that offer freebies on birthdays so you get as many as you can when the day arrives.

 

Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: , , , ,

Low-Sugar Blueberry Banana Smoothie

February 17, 2024 By 4 Comments

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

Smoothies are a great way to start the day or cool down on a hot summer day. While we are still in the cold weather here in Washington, I can’t pass up a good smoothie. One way you can always have smoothie making supplies on hand is to buy fruits like berries and bananas in bulk and flash freeze them to keep them easy to use. To flash freeze, simple cut up your fruit into bite size pieces and lay flat on a baking sheet in your freezer. This method will allow you to freeze fruit faster so it retains its good flavor. When the fruit is frozen, place it in individual portions that are quick to grab for a fast morning breakfast.

Low-Sugar Blueberry Banana Smoothie

Low-Sugar Blueberry Banana Smoothie
 
Print
Author:
Recipe type: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
  • 1 Cup Carbmaster Vanilla Yogurt
  • 1 Ripe Banana (you can use frozen for a better smoothie texture if desired)
  • 1 Cup Frozen Blueberries
  • ½ Cup Ice
  • ¾ Cup Sugar Free Kool-Aid (sweetened with Splenda/Stevia or preferred sugar substitute – Strawberry, Watermelon or Orange are great for smoothies)
Instructions
  1. Place ice, frozen berries and kool-aid in blender and pulse until ice begins to break up into smaller pieces. I have a specific one large serving size blender that I often use for making smoothies, but this recipe will make two small smoothies nicely.
  2. Add in yogurt and banana and puree until smooth.
  3. You may need to use spoon to dislodge ice/blueberries from bottom of blender and stir to incorporate well and remove all lumps.
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If you are wondering about Carbmater yogurt, here is some information about it:

Carbmaster Yogurt is lower in sugars and carbohydrates than traditional lowfat or nonfat yogurts. While sweetened with some natural sugars that may cause spikes in select individuals it typically does not cause the blood sugar fluctuations that other nonfat yogurts traditionally do. Carbmater yogurt can often be found in many health food stores.

Filed Under: Diabetic Lifestyle, Diabetic Recipes, Food, Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: , , , , ,

10 Things You Should Always Buy In Bulk

February 14, 2024 By 17 Comments

10 Things you should always buy in bulk

It’s no secret that buying in bulk can save you a lot of money. While it can be wasteful to buy some thing sin bulk, other things are almost always a better buy when purchased this way. Of course, it ultimately depends on your household’s usage on what you will choose to buy in bulk, but here is a general guideline to 10 things that are usually a good idea to get in larger quantity.

 

10 Things You Should Always Buy In Bulk

 

1. Spices. This cannot be said enough. Spices and seasonings are much cheaper when you buy them in the bulk food section of your favorite store that carries them. Not only is it an amazing savings, it also is usually fresher and less wasteful.

2. Paper products. This includes toilet paper and paper towels. The larger packages of this stuff are often less than half the price of buying several small packages. Not only that, but there are constantly coupons circling around for these products. If you know when to look, you may end up like me: 2 cases of paper towels you got for free. I don’t normally use this many paper towels for just cleanup, but I do like to use them to make my own cleaning wipes.

3. Personal care items like shampoo. The larger bottles will be much cheaper by the ounce than smaller ones and since shampoo doesn’t really go “bad”, you should get the bigger ones if you can.

4. Vegetables that freeze easily. Buy vegetables that are freezer friendly such as peas, green beans, corn and low moisture vegetables when they are in season and flash freeze them. If you have home canning skills, this would also be a great way to preserve them.

5. Flour, sugar and other dry baking goods. This is usually cheaper if bought in the bulk foods section unless it is baking season around Christmas. The other day, I was at the store and saw cornmeal was 54 cents a pound. This is amazingly cheap considering a tub of it costs me around $2-$3 for 1 1/2 lbs,

6. Pasta. Another dry goods pantry staple that is a good deal in bulk is pasta. If you get lucky, you may be able to even find gluten free or low carb versions in the bulk foods section.

7. Chocolate. Buying baking chips or even just chunks of chocolate is a lot cheaper when purchased in bulk for making candies, cakes and other sweets. Perhaps, I included this because I just like the idea of having chocolate on hand in large quantities.

8. Vitamins. You will always get a better deal when you buy them in bulk. Whether that is a bigger package or a 2 for 1 deal that occasionally comes out, buying vitamins in bulk is always cheaper.

9. Batteries. Buying batteries in the larger packages will almost always save you money in the long run. If your household uses a lot of batteries, getting coupons for them and buying in big packages is definitely the way to go.

10. Cheese when it is on sale. You can buy blocks of it and shred it yourself for much cheaper than buying it in convenient packs already shredded for you.

 

The Key to buying in bulk is making sure you look at the price per unit (whether that be per pound, ounce or serving) and comparing it to other items that are similar. Make sure you are getting the best deal.

Filed Under: Frugal Living Tagged With: , , ,

DIY: How to Restore Your Wood Cutting Boards

February 12, 2024 By 21 Comments

DIY How to restore your wood cutting boards

I don’t know about you, but I love a new wood cutting board. That first time you use it is quite an experience, but it soon starts to look dull, lifeless. Before you know it, it has started to loose its luster and lack it’s charm.

You can bring life back to your cutting boards in several ways. Some suggest using just plain olive oil as it will add back the sheen it had when it was new, but I prefer to use cold, unprocessed Coconut oil. I don’t know if it is because I think like vinegar, coconut oil has so many uses, it is like a miracle product, but I find that coconut oil really gets deeper into the wood and restores it completely, not just the surface.

How To Restore Your Cutting Board

There are plenty of products sold for restoring wood that are food safe and made just for this use. These products are not only expensive, but also unnecessary if you use coconut oil. While olive oil is in most people’s kitchens, it can also be pretty expensive and does not do as good of a job as coconut oil does. A small jar of coconut oil can cost you as little as $5.00 and since a little goes a long way with it, this is not an expensive option at all.

Another bonus to using coconut oil is that is has antimicrobial properties and will not allow for the growth of bacteria as a vegetable or olive oil will. Plus, it smells wonderful!

To restore your boards, follow the instructions below.

 

How to Restore Your Wood Cutting Boards:

  • Make sure you boards are clean and dry.
  • Taking some oil straight out of the container (coconut oil is actually solid and white if kept at room temperature), rub it into the board in a circular motion.
  • You won’t need much, just enough to completely cover all the parts of the board.
  • Allow it to completely soak into the board and wipe off any excess oil with a dry, soft cloth.
  • Let the oil soak in for a few hours before using it to to be sure the coconut oil has time to condition the wood.

how to retore your wood cutting board

You can repeat this process as often as you need to as some woods will require it more often than others. Keeping the wood conditioned not only keeps it looking attractive, but also makes your cutting boards last longer and less susceptible to breaking.

Filed Under: Crafts & DIY, DIY Cleaners, Homekeeping Tagged With: , , , ,

Sugar Free Strawberry Fudge

February 11, 2024 By 1 Comment

Strawberry Fudge

So the name of this is “2 ingredient Strawberry fudge”, but that is somewhat of a lie. It really is more like 4 ingredients because strawberry frosting of the sugar free kind is kind of hard to find so you must improvise.

This can be made year round and can be adapted for just about any flavor combination, but since Valentine’s Day is just a couple days away, I think the pink color is fitting.

If you want to make the full sugar version, feel free to use regular frosting and regular white chocolate chips. I just chose to make it this version because I try to keep things as diabetic friendly as possible on Saved By Grace.

 

To make Sugar free Strawberry Fudge, you will need:

 

  • 1 Can Sugar Free Vanilla Frosting
  • 1 bag of sugar free or no sugar added white chocolate chips
  • Red Food Coloring
  • Strawberry Extract
  1. Prepare a dish for placing your fudge in. Glass works best. This recipe will make either thick or thin pieces of fudge, depending on what size pan you use. For thicker, use a small square pan, for thinner, use a 9 x 13 cake pan. To prepare the pan, line it with parchment paper and spray the sides with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Starting with 30 seconds at a time, melt your white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave. Stir with each 30 seconds. Keep heating for 30 seconds at a time until smooth and glossy. Do not over-heat or you will scorch the chocolate.
  3. Add 5-6 drops of food coloring and 5-6 drops of strawberry extract to the melted chocolate until the desired taste and color is achieved. Work quickly so your chocolate does not get hard.
  4. After you have the color and flavor right, stir in the entire can of white sugar free frosting. Mix until well incorporated. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
  5. Place your fudge in the fridge for about a half hour to set. Enjoy!
Filed Under: Desserts, Diabetic Recipes, Frugal Living
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